Matching Program and System for Corporate Meeting Planners and Hospitality Providers

ABSTRACT

The computerized bidding method matches hospitality facility data and meeting requirement data, permits the posting of offers and responsive bidding by both hospitality facility vendors and meeting planners, and facilitates the exchange of data. In a simplified system, meeting planner requirement data (at least meeting planner contact data, facilities requirement data, date range data and price data) is matched to hotel or hospitality vendor data (at least vendor contact data, location data, room quantity data, date available range data, and meeting room data), and the system sends planner offer data to matching hospitality vendors without disclosing the planner contact data. Thereafter, the hotel vendors respond and the responses are sent to the meeting planner posting the offer. The presentation to the planner may be in spread sheet form, sorted by pre-set criteria.

This is a continuation patent application based upon and claiming thebenefit of application Ser. No. 09/740,371. filed Dec. 19, 2000, nowpending. The present invention relates to a computerized method and asystem for matching hospitality providers, such as hotels andhospitality facilities provided by vendors, with the needs ornecessities of a plurality of meeting planners which organize andimplement corporate, association and third party private meetings andevents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Meeting planners facilitate and organize corporate meetings, events, andother types of gatherings for businesses, charitable organizations andprivate parties. There is a continuing need by these meeting planners tolocate prospective venues, confirm the amenities, room availability,meeting room availability and other characteristics of the hospitalityfacility prior to negotiating a price for the meeting or event. From theperspective of the hospitality facility vendor (that is, the hotel,conference center or other type of hospitality facility), there is aneed to easily provide basic information regarding the facility and afurther need to operate the facility at a high occupancy or utilizationrate. Of course, the hospitality facility vendor is seeking the highestpossible price for utilization of the facility and the highest occupancyrate, and meeting planners are seeking the lowest possible price forroom and board and reasonable quality facilities.

Taking into account the competing and common interests of these parties,there is a need for an information and matching service, implemented asa computer program or a computerized method, which facilitates thepostings of offers to sell or provide hospitality facilities andsubsequently permit meeting planners to bid on those hotel offerings anda system and method for vendors to bid on meetings and eventscorresponding to event offers posted by meeting planners. A discussionof some prior art systems follow.

Winsor consultants (“Meeting Auctions” www.meetingauctions.com/)discloses a method for providing and bidding on meeting rooms. Fouroptions are listed. In option one, the user searches the hotel databaseand completes an Auction/RFP form (request for proposal) stating hisrequirements regarding hotel rooms. When the submit button is clicked,the form is sent to the Auctioneer who contacts the hotel and sends theuser the results. In option two, the user provides more data in theAuction RFP form, such as region, a range of dates, etc. The Auctioneercontacts the hotels with the same effect. In option three, if the userrequest in the Auction RIP/form, the Auctioneer will contact a largegroup of hotels to solicit proposals. After discussing a short list withthe user, the Auctioneer will work out a satisfactory rate and contractwith the selected hotel(s). In option 4, the user fills out the AuctionRFP form with the minimum information, and the Auctioneer contacts theuser to discuss options.

An article from Business Wire (10/27/99) discloses details regardingStarCite.com which provides an auctioning system for meetings andplanning particularly with reference to bidding for hotel rooms, andother aspects concerning meetings. The emphasis is on planning, and theessential idea is to develop a large database that contains as muchinformation as possible about hotels including all aspects of meeting,such as old RFPs so that planners can plan and track meetings, amountspent, and have reference to suppliers and specific meeting and travelpolicies. Planners can search more than 50,000 suppliers. Another siteis enventsource.com.

Priceline.com is engaged in abidding and auction system. The procedureis straight forward and involves booking a hotel room at a favorablerate dictated by the user.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,207 to Walker et al discloses a system for allowingprospective buyers of goods and services to communicate a bindingpurchase offer globally to potential sellers and for sellers toconveniently search for relevant buyer purchase offers. No auction isconducted in the normal sense, and the system is simply an outreachtechnique that a buyer with limited resources and usage can use tocontact many sellers, and thereby, try to purchase at more favorable andcompetitive terms vis-a-vis large buyers.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,045 to Barzilai et al discloses a computer basedmethod of selling consumer products and services. The computerelectronically establishes a virtual showroom in which is displayed theconsumer products and services, and a plurality of customers areinterconnected to the computer via a telecommunication link. The auctionis run in the usual way, with consumers bidding for the goods andservices. The computer determines the highest and successful bid.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a computerizedbidding method and a system for matching hospitality facility data,provided by vendors, with requirement data representing respectivenecessities of a plurality of meeting planners for a correspondingplurality of meetings or events.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide acomputer system wherein the roles of the seller (offeror) are reversedwith respect to the buyer (bidder) dependent upon a particular desiredtransaction.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide aninformation storage and management system which enables the vendor toquickly and easily input or register and confirm hospitality facilitydata representing their hotels, convention centers and hospitalityfacilities.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a simplesystem for registering meeting planners and for enabling those plannersto input requirement data representing necessities of meetings andevents such as number of hotel rooms needed, size of meeting roomsneeded, special amenities such as golf, tennis etc., geographiclocation, maximum price, and date.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide ascreening service which initially matches hospitality facility data withrequirement data from meeting planners.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a computerizedsystem and a method for posting offers for hospitality facilities orservices by vendors, and posting offers by meeting planners to fulfilmeeting and event requirements, and a complementary system enablingmeeting planners to bid on hospitality facility offers and hotel andhospitality vendors to bid on meeting and event requirements or offersposted by meeting planners.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide amatching system which displays, to the vendor or meeting plannerinitiating the offer, all bids, in a blinded format, posted by theprospective complementary contracting party.

It is a further object of the present invention to enable electroniccommunications between offerors and bidders by providing all bids to theofferors, permitting the offeror to select a predetermined number(typically three), unblinding the selected bid data and offeror data forthat predetermined number, and exchanging unblinded data to the selectedbidders and the offeror such that the offerors and the bidders canconclude contract negotiations for the hospitality facility withoutfurther intervention by the computerized system.

It is another object of the present invention to enable the offeror toselect additional bids, other than the initially selected bids, tofulfil the offeror's desires. If a hospitality facility vendor is theofferor, the meeting planner bidders may not be desirable or, forexample, not credit worthy. If the offeror is a meeting planner, thefacilities bid by vendors may not meet or exceed the meetingplanner-offeror's expectations, economic parameters, time for event orother stated or unstated conditions. In such event, the computerizedsystem and method produces and presents an additional group of bidders,which meet the offer data, to the offeror.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The computerized bidding method matches hospitality facility data andmeeting requirement data, permits the posting of offers and responsivebidding by both hospitality facility vendors and meeting planners, andfacilitates the exchange of data and essentially enables an auctionbetween multiple parties. The hospitality facility data representsvendors for hotel facilities, meeting room facilities or otherhospitality facilities. Meeting requirement data represents thenecessities of a plurality of meeting planners for a correspondingplurality of meetings or events. The system and the method stores thehospitality facility data and the meeting requirement data in adatabase. The hospitality facility data and meeting requirement data atleast includes, respectively, vendor contact data, meeting plannercontact data, room data, amenity data and price data. The system and themethod gathers meeting requirement data from a plurality of meetingplanners. Typically, this meeting requirement data includes minimumfacilities requirement and price data. In an enhanced version, themeeting requirement data also includes location and date availability.The system matches the meeting requirement data with previously storedhospitality facility data. Typically, the data match involves dateavailability, price, number of rooms required and, sometimes, location.Meeting requirement data is truncated or blinded to obscure or withholdthe identity of the meeting planner offeror who supplied the meetingrequirement data. The blinded meeting requirement data or offer is sentto hospitality vendors which match the meeting requirements. Thehospitality vendors then submit specific hospitality facility data orbids to the system. The system and the method presents to the meetingplanner offeror blinded specific hospitality facility data or blindedhospitality bids. The system and method then permits the meeting plannerofferor to select a predetermined number (typically 3) of the blindedhospitality vendor bids. Upon this selection, the system and the methodexchanges contact data and a full detail of the meeting planner offerand a full detail of the selected vendor hospitality bids to the meetingofferor and all of the “winning” or selected hospitality vendor bidders.In the event the meeting planner offeror cannot fill his or hernecessities (the meeting can select or reject a bid in his or hercomplete discretion), the meeting planner can request the system and themethod to provide another group of hospitality vendor bidders whiledeselecting one or more previously submitted hospitality vendor bids.The system then again exchanges contact data and full offeror and biddata between the selected bidders and the meeting planner offeror. Thesystem and the method also enables the hospitality vendor to offerhospitality facilities. Blinded facilities offer data is presented toone or more inquiring meeting planners. Additionally and optionally,blinded facilities offer data is provided to everyone via the Internet.Meeting planners can bid by submitting specific facilities requirementdata for those hospitality vendor offers. The meeting planner bids areblinded (to remove bidder name, etc.) and all blinded planner bids arepresented to the hospitality vendor offeror. The hospitality vendorofferor is permitted to select a predetermined number (3) of the blindedmeeting planner bids (specific requirement data) and, upon selection,the system enables direct communication with the exchange of hotelvendor offeror contact data and winning meeting planner bidder contactdata. If the vendor-offeror cannot fulfil the offer (in his or her solediscretion to accept or reject bids), the vendor-offeror requestsadditional meeting planner bids and deselects other previously suppliedmeeting planner bids. Thereafter, the system repeats the exchange ofdata process.

In a simplified system, meeting planner requirement data (at leastmeeting planner contact data, facilities requirement data, date rangedata and price data) is matched to hotel or hospitality vendor data (atleast vendor contact data, location data, room quantity data, dateavailable range data, and meeting room data), and the system sendsplanner offer data to matching hospitality vendors without disclosingthe planner contact data. Thereafter, the hotel vendors respond and theresponses are sent to the meeting planner posting the offer. Thepresentation to the planner may be in spread sheet form, sorted bypre-set criteria.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects and advantages of the present invention can be found inthe detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A diagrammatically illustrates a global telecommunications systemor Internet and the computerized bidding method and system utilizing atleast one computer server and utilizing at least one and typically aplurality of client computer systems engaged in a communications sessionover the Internet;

FIG. 1B diagrammatically shows a web based server deploying a pluralityof output data packets representative data screens to a client computersystem and the return of data from client computer systems;

FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates the computerized bidding method andsystem at the system level;

FIG. 3A diagrammatically illustrates a flowchart showing the majorcomponents or steps for the registration sub-routine;

FIG. 3B diagrammatically illustrates a web page and data flow or processdiagram for an initial portion of the system and method in accordancewith the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates a top level hotel functionalflowchart;

FIGS. 5A and 5B diagrammatically illustrate display screens on clientcomputer systems wherein FIG. 5A shows an interactive displays posted onclient computer system enabling a hotel or vendor to review his or heroffers and his or her bids and enabling the hotel vendor to post newoffers, search for meeting planner offers and update hospitalityfacilities data and wherein FIG. 5B diagrammatically illustrates asimilar display screen for a meeting planner-client computer system;

FIG. 6 diagrammatically illustrates a top level meeting plannerfunctional routine;

FIGS. 7A and 7B diagrammatically illustrate hotel auction offer routinesand meeting auction offer routines;

FIGS. 8A and 8B diagrammatically illustrate bid post routines for hotelvendors and meeting planners, respectively;

FIG. 9 diagrammatically illustrates an auction routine; and

FIG. 10 diagrammatically illustrates a special meeting offer postingroutine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a computerized bidding method and asystem for matching hospitality facility data, provided by vendors, withmeeting requirement data, provided by meeting planners and representingrespective necessities for a plurality of meetings or events. Throughoutthe description of the present method and system, abbreviations aresometimes utilized describing certain features. The followingAbbreviations Table lists these items. ABBREVIATIONS TABLE # numberAdmin Administrator comm. communications (e-mail, electronic responserequested, telephone call contact) cc copy correspondence to anotherdesignated party cpu central processing unit DB Database or spread sheetor data array hosp. hotel, convention center or other hospitalityprovider I/O Input-Output device (e.g., I/O for keyboard, modem etc.)mem memory org. organization rcd record or records (rcds) req'd requiredRFQ(s) Request for proposal(s) or an offer from a meeting planner toretain a hotel for a function rqmts requirements rqt request(s) statsstatistics t time Tel. Telecommunications Center with voicecommunications Comm. Center Tel. Telecommunications System Comm. Sys.Sys. System yr year

FIG. 1A diagrammatically illustrates the global telecommunicationssystem or Internet 10 which enables communication and data transportbetween a plurality of relatively independent computer systems 12, 14,16, 17, 18 and 20. Computer system 12 includes monitor 22, input deviceor keypad 24, input device or mouse 26, and processor unit 28. Processorunit 28 includes a central processing unit or CPU 30, memory 32 and aninput/output or I/O device 34. It should be appreciated that memory 32represents many types of data storage including hard drives, volatileand non-volatile memory, and removable drives. Also, I/O 34 represents aplurality of input/output devices which are utilized to couple itemswhich are peripheral to processing unit 28. I/O 34 is connected toInternet 10. Computer 17 is a laptop computer which can easily bedisconnected from Internet 10. Computer 18 is an administrative computerwhich assists in the overall control and operation of the system and themethod described herein. Computers 12, 14, 16 and 17 are client computersystems operated by vendors and meeting planners.

In a preferred embodiment, the system and method are deployed onInternet 10 via computer system server 20. Server 20 includes CPU 36,memory 38 and I/O 40, and is coupled to Internet 10.

In a different embodiment of the present invention, the meetingplanner—hotel auction system or processing system or method may bepartially or entirely carried out with the use of a telephonecommunications center 42. The telephone communications center typicallyincludes one or a plurality of computers 44 and one or more telephones46. Human operators may answer telephone inquiries from a meetingplanner or hotel representative seeking information regarding anauction. The input of information can be facilitated by a person attelephone communication center 42. For example, computer 44 coulddisplay questions which the operator could audibly present via telephone46 to a caller. The operator would input into computer 44 the caller'sanswers and system 44 could generate appropriate responses to completedata entry forms for the system.

In a preferred embodiment, inquiries regarding meeting planners, hotelsor auctions are obtained by utilizing a web browser or other type ofinterface on a user's computer 12 (a client computer) as deployed byserver 20. The information obtained by computer 12 is generally storedin server 20. Thereafter, the information is processed by server 20 andthe output information representing processed data is delivered to theuser via Internet 10, and ultimately to user or client computer 12.

Although the system and method is described generally for use inconjunction with Internet 10, the system and method could be utilizedexclusively by a single computer, such as laptop computer 17, operatedby a meeting planner or a hotel representative. Laptop 17 could beutilized with a CD-ROM storing a major portion of the data basesnecessary to carry out the principles of the present invention. Sincethe bidding process involves a complementary party, that portion must beinteractive over a communications channel. Further, the informationprocessing system could be deployed over a local area network or a widearea network or utilized exclusively in-house by a single company withsubsidiaries bidding for a facility, such as a corporate resort.

FIG. 1B diagrammatically shows web-based sever 20 deploying a pluralityof screen displays or web pages (page 1, a1, a2, a3 and a4 and b1, b2).Certain data 50, input by a user at client computer 12, is returned toserver 20 as shown by double lines 51. In this manner, server 20transmits information to a web browser on user's computer 12 and thatinformation is displayed to the user. When the user inputs information,that data, such as data 50 in FIG. 1B, is sent back to server 20 to beprocessed. Output information is provided by server 20 to the user'sbrowser. In this manner, the computer system is a web based server.

The browser is displayed on computer 12 or 17 or on an Internet enabled,computerized device such as a PALM PILOT or Internet enabled cellulartelephone. The browser and web server may be considered part of theinterface to the data and information processing system.

The present invention could be produced in hardware or software, or in acombination of hardware and software, and these hardware and softwareimplementations would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Thesystem, or method, according to the inventive principles as disclosed inconnection with the preferred embodiment, may be produced in a singlecomputer system having separate elements or means for performing theindividual functions or steps described or claimed or one or moreelements or means combining the performance of any of the functions orsteps disclosed or claimed, or may be arranged in a distributed computersystem, interconnected by any suitable means (such as a local or widelydistributed network over a telecommunications system), as would be knownby one of ordinary skill in art.

According to the inventive principles as disclosed in connection withthe preferred embodiment, the invention and the inventive principles arenot limited to any particular kind of computer system but may be usedwith any general purpose computer, as would be known to one of ordinaryskill in the art, arranged to perform the functions described and themethod steps described. The operations of such a computer, as describedherein, may be according to a computer program contained on a medium foruse in the operation or control of the computer, as would be known toone of ordinary skill in the art. The computer medium which may be usedto hold or contain the computer program product, may be a fixture of thecomputer such as an embedded memory or may be on a transportable mediumsuch as a disk, as would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

The invention is not limited to any particular computer program or logicor language, or instruction but may be practiced with any such suitableprogram, logic or language, or instructions as would be known to one ofordinary skill in the art. Without limiting the principles of thedisclosed invention any such computing system can include, inter alia,at least a computer readable medium allowing a computer to read data,instructions, messages or message packets, and other computer readableinformation from the computer readable medium. The computer readablemedium may include non-volatile memory, such as ROM, Flash memory,floppy disk, Disk drive memory, CD-ROM, and other permanent storage.Additionally, a computer readable medium may include, for example,volatile storage such as RAM, buffers, cache memory, and networkcircuits.

Furthermore, the computer readable medium may include computer readableinformation in a transitory state medium such as a network link and/or anetwork interface, including a wired network or a wireless network, thatallow a computer to read such computer readable information.

FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates a high-level, system diagram for thepresent computerized bidding method and system. The computerized systemincludes a registration function 61, a meeting auction or data exchangefunction 63, a hotel auction or data exchange function 65 and anadministration function 67. It should be noted that these functions arenot necessarily executed sequentially as illustrated in FIG. 2. Thefunctions may be executed concurrently or in any convenient processingorder. The same is true with respect to other routines described herein.

With respect to registration function 61, inputs are obtained frommeeting planners 62, vendors representing hotels and hospitalityfacilities 64 and third parties having facilities data 66. These thirdparty data sources 66 provide basic hotel data such as name, fulladdress and sometimes quality rating or ranking. Registration function61 processes this information and places or stores the information intoa planner database 68 and a hotel database 70. These data bases aretypically located on server 20 but may be located on a CD-ROM used bylaptop 17. Other databases, lists or indexes may be utilized asdiscussed later herein. It should be noted that a single database orspreadsheet appropriately divided into meeting planner regions and hotelvendors regions is contemplated by the present inventive system.However, it is convenient to discuss two databases, one associated withthe meeting planner information and the second associated with the hotelor hospitality facility vendor information. The discussion of two ormore data bases is not meant to limit the claimed invention since asingle database, properly organized, may be utilized. In order to reducethe data input time by hotel and hospitality providers or vendors, thesystem sometimes obtains hospitality facility data from third-partysources. This input of third-party data 66 is recognized in FIG. 2.

Meeting auction or exchange data function 63 obtains offer informationfrom a plurality of planners 62 a. Meeting auction exchange function 63outputs information to hotels and other hospitality facility vendors 64a and planners 62 a. Entities 64 a and 62 a interact the meeting auctionfunction 63 with bids and communications. As used herein, the term“hotel” includes any type of organization or person that furnishes hotelrooms or facilities, motels, rooms, meeting facilities, conferencecenters, and other hospitality facilities such as golf, tennis, sailing,marina, adventure excursions, tours etc. Accordingly, the presentinvention is not limited to vendors providing hotel accommodations butis related to a wider range of hospitality vendors. “Hospitality vendor”is synonymous with “hotel vendor” or simply “hotels.”

Hotel auction or data exchange function 65 receives offer input fromhotel vendors 64 b and outputs information or interacts with planners 62c and hotels 64 b. These latter entities bid and interact with function65.

Administration function 67 accepts input from a system administrator 72and generates output to administrator 72 and website administrator 74and customers 76 utilizing the system and method. Customers 76 includevendors and meeting planners. Administration function 67 can be furthersegmented into website management 69, marketing 71 and error handling73. Error handling 73 may include information or data errors as well asadministrative errors. Such administrative errors may include erroneouscontact information for particular hotel vendors.

FIG. 3A diagrammatically illustrates a registration function. Theregistration function enables planner 62, hotels and hospitalityproviders or vendors 64, and third-party data sources 66 to inputinformation into the system. Registration function in FIG. 3A beginswith a registration inquiry 80. The registration inquiry branches into ahotel or vendor branch 81 and a meeting planner branch 83.

Vendor branch 81 obtains the user name and hotel name in step 82. If thehotel or hospitality facility is already documented and identified inhotel database 70, according to decision step 84, the YES branch istaken. Step 86 confirms the hotel data with the user-hotelrepresentative typically on the client computer. One of these client'scomputers includes client computer 12 in FIG. 1A. Alternatively, thesystem can be implemented with a telephone communications center 42 anda live operator could interact with a vendor via the telephone. The liveoperator on client computer 44 inputs the information obtained orallyfrom the hotel or hospitality facility vendor.

If the hotel or hospitality facility is not identified and documented inhotel database 72 (FIG. 2) with the action in decision step 84, the NObranch is taken and step 85 obtains hotel and vendor data. Typically,the registrant—hotel representative inputs the correct data in step 85or confirms the data in step 86. The output from steps 85 and 86 lead tostep 88 which verifies the user name and the hotel. The verification maybe done manually by the system administrator and electronicallyconfirmed. Table 1 which follows provides general data informationobtained or confirmed by the hotel representative. TABLE 1 RegistrationFor Hotel Representative Personal Information: Contact Person TitleHotel Name Address (including city, state, country, zip code) AmenitiesPhone Number (direct) Fax Number (direct) E-mail (direct) WebsiteIndustry Associations Membership Information: User ID Password

The present version of the invention includes a verification routine.Step 88 verifies that the user represents the hotel which he or she asindicated in step 82. Typically, the system administrator or stafforally confirms the identity and authority of the hotel's contactperson. This is an off-line verification function. An electronicverification (i.e., by automatically, electronically checking thepersonal records on the website of the vendor or the corporate meetingplanner) may be implemented. Table 2 which follows provides an exampleof hotel registration verification. TABLE 2 Hotel RegistrationVerification System sends e-mail to Registrant. Post verification --System sends second e-mail with a hot-link to matching service to enablea quick link to matching service web site.

In an enhanced system, the electronic verification program will generatee-mail to the designated e-mail address and then require the recipient'se-mail system to reply to that specific e-mail message. In this manner,the enhanced system electronically verifies that the user is arepresentative for a particular hotel and is, in fact, associated withthat hotel.

Post-verification step 90 sends an e-mail to the user with a URL or hotlink. This e-mail enables the user to quickly access the computerizedbid-offer system.

Table 3 which follows provides general information regarding the hotelor the hospitality facility listed in hotel database 70 of FIG. 2. Thisinformation is also input and/or confirmed by the hotel vendorrepresentative. TABLE 3 Hotel Information General Hotel Info 1. HotelName 2. Region 3. Type of Facility 4. Closest Airport (may be apull-down menu) 5. Address 6. City 7. State 8. Zip Code 9. Country 10.Hotel Phone Number 11. Hotel Fax Number 12. Hotel E-mail 13. WebsiteROOM INFORMATION 14. # of Rooms 15. Maximum number of rooms utilized forgroup business BALLROOM AND BREAKOUT ROOMS INFORMATION 16. Name of theRooms 17. Largest Room 18. Number of Rooms 19. Dimension of Rooms 20.Technicalities 21. Room Size 22. Square Feet 23. Ceiling 24. Classroom25. Banquet 26. Conference 27. Theater AMENITIES 28. Fitness Center(e.g., YES/NO) 29. Business Center (Y/N) 30. Golf on-site 31. Waterfront32. On the Ocean 33. Tennis 34. Spa 35. Nearby Water Front Sports 36.Nearby Snow Skiing RATINGS 37. AAA (pull down menu) 38. Mobile (pulldown menu)

If the registration inquiry in step 80 branches to meeting plannerbranch 83, the system further branches or splits into corporate meetingplanner branch 87 and third-party corporate representative branch 89. Ineach one of these branches, obtain data steps 92 a and 92 b enable thesystem to gather basic meeting planner data. Table 4 which followsidentifies meeting planner categories and definitions. TABLE 4 MeetingPlanner Categories and Definitions 1. Corporate: Work for a company oran association e.g., employee, that does their own meetings and does notutilize third party planner consultants. 2. Third-party Consultant forCorporate: Corporate or association client which utilizes a third-partyconsultant. Registrant - corporate data must be completed for this typeof consultant. Registrant-Corporation will be copied in any informationsent to authorized representative. Corporation can only authorize oneperson to deal on corporation's behalf. Corporation must validateconsultant's authority.

The definitions in above Table 4 provide a simple frame work forcategorizing various meeting planners. Other frameworks may be utilized.These categories and definitions are not meant to be limiting withrespect to the utilization of the present system.

The data obtained in data gathering step 92 a may include theregistration data for the planner set forth in Table 5 below. TABLE 5Registration Table for Corporate Meeting Planner Personal Information:Name Title Organization Name Full Address (street, city, state, zip,country) Direct Phone Number Organization's main phone number Direct FaxNumber E-mail Website Type of Organization Type of Industry AssociationMemberships Membership Information: User ID Password

The registration table for third-party corporate meeting planners is setforth below in Table 6. TABLE 6 Registration Table for Third-party forCorporate [Similar to Registration Table for Corporate Meeting Planner]plus: The Site Selection Company Registration-Corporation: NameOrganization Name Full Address Direct Phone Number Organization's mainphone number Direct Fax Number E-mail Website Corporate SponsorSelection and Approval: Corporation authorizes this site selectioncompany consultant to do business on its behalf in the bid-offer system.

Returning to the corporate meeting planner branch 87, after the systemobtains basic data (see Table 5), the system in step 94 verifies theuser name and the organization. Currently, the system operator confirmsthis registration and corporate authorization data and an electronicnotation is made in the records. Table 7 which follows provides theplanner verification steps. TABLE 7 Planner Verification TableRegistrant gets an e-mail. System operator verifies authorization. Afterverification, system sends e-mail with a hot-link to computer matchsystem.

With respect to the third-party meeting planner branch 89, after thesystem obtains basic information on the third-party representing aspecific corporation, the system obtains corporate data in step 96 forthe planner. As listed above in Table 6, the user must be an authorizedcorporate representative and the corporation must specifically elect andconfirm that it is bound by the decisions of the third-party consultant.For a corporation to be bound, an electronic authorization may beutilized. See Table 6, Corporate Selection and Approval. The dataobtained in data step 92 b relates to basic consultant information anddata acquisition step 96 obtains corporate or association data.

Returning to the registration branch 89 for the third-party consultantfor a corporation, in step 98, the system marks the corporate plannerdatabase with indication that copies be sent to the designatedcorporation. Step 100 verifies the data obtained in Table 6. Thisverification is similar to the Planner Verification Table. Step 102sends a hotlink or hyperlink from the system to the consultant for thecorporation.

FIG. 3B diagrammatically illustrates the initial web page generated bythe matching computer system, primarily available via the Internet 10(FIG. 1), and several basic initial processes. Web page 1012 ispresented to a registered user (a hotel vendor or a meeting planner) ora visitor at the website. Critical elements in web page 1012 include acontact active button or field 1014. Contact field 1014 enables thevisitor or registered user to electronically contact the systemadministrator. The other critical active areas in web page 1012 includeexchange areas 1016, registration area 1026, user name and passwordactive areas 1034, 1036 and demonstration active area 1040. Exchangeactive area 1016 provides a hot link or hyperlink or active interfacefor meeting offers 1018 and hotel offers 1020. Activating or “clickingon” planner meeting offer area 1018 or hotel offer area 1020 passes theuser or visitor to hotel offer database and meeting offer database 68-70(via a hyperlink). Particularly, the registered user or the visitor canview blinded or truncated open (unexpired) hotel offers and blinded ortruncated meeting offers. Table 7B below list some exemplary data in thetruncated meeting offer. Table 7C is the Truncated Hotel Offer Table.Particular details regarding these offers are discussed later. TABLE 7BTruncated Meeting Offer Table data record id offer expiration daterequested dates (to-from-) # of rooms location (region, state, airport)type of hotel max'm price details (active tag to file) bid history(active tag to file)

TABLE 7C Truncated Hotel Offer Table data record id offer expirationdate dates available (to-from-) # of rooms (max'm and min'm) location(region, state, airport) type of hotel size of meeting room max'm pricedetails (active tag to file) bid history (active tag)

Hotel search active area 1022 and meeting search active area 1024transfers the registered user or visitor to a search process 1021.Search process 1021 enables the registered user or the visitor to searchfor and review the data shown in the blinded or truncated hotel offer orblinded or truncated meeting offer database. In other words, theregistered user or visitor may wish to look at all hotels in the Stateof Florida rather than all hotels in the U.S. Search criteria based ondates availability, location, type of hotel and price are common searchcriteria.

Registration areas 1026 include hotel active area 1028 and meetingplanner active area 1030. The registration areas 1026 transfer thevisitor or potential user to a registration process 1032. Registrationprocess 1032 is discussed above generally in connection with FIG. 3A.The output of registration process 1032 enables changes to be made tothe database, that is, hotel database 70 and meeting planner database 68(sometimes referred to herein as database 68-70).

A registered user can input his or her name in user name input activearea 1034 and insert his or her appropriate password at password inputarea 1036. The user is then transferred to a functional routineidentified herein as member filter function 1038. The user is thenpresented with his or her specific activities page. An example of ahotel activity page is shown in FIG. 5A. An example of a meeting planneractivity page is shown in FIG. 5B. The function “member filter”described in connection with FIG. 3B is simply a recognition that onlycertain information is presented to the activities page for the hotelrepresentative or the meeting planner. For example, open offers and bidsposted by the registered member are (a) located in the database by thefilter and (b) displayed in an orderly manner to the registered user.Programmers may use a fetch command rather than a filter routine.

In order to enhance the user friendliness of the system, a demonstrationactive area 1040 is provided. Demonstration area 1040 includesdemonstration for hotel offers and bids 1042 and a demonstration formeeting planner offers and bids 1044. A demonstration for theregistration function may also be provided in active area 1046. Theusers, upon actuation of active areas 1042, 1044 or 1046 are transferredvia hyperlink to a demonstration database 1050. Of course, demonstrationdatabase 1050 could be part of hotel database 70 and meeting plannerdatabase 68 (which may be a single database as described earlier) or maybe a separate database in order to avoid corruption of accurate datawith respect to the hotels, meeting planners, posted offers and postedbids (offer-bid database 68-70).

FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates the top level hotel function routinefor the present system. It should be noted that each function isactivated by the registered user by selecting an active field on the webdisplay page. Hence, the sequence or process is not linear as shown inFIG. 4 but is typically user selected. Step 110 obtains user-hotelinformation from one of the plurality of client computer systems andconfirms that the user is associated with the hotel. Common log-in andsecurity clearance programs are utilized by the present system.

In step 112, the system obtains “open,” that is not expired, offer dataand responsive bid data for that hotel or hospitality facility vendorfrom the database. Step 114 displays those open offers wherein the hotelor hospitality facility vendor is offering to provide hospitalityservices to registered meeting planners. Step 116 enables the user toselect more data (show details and show bid history) to view outstandingoffers and display posted by the user. Offers and bids not posted by theuser are blinded or truncated data compilations. Bid data can be changedvia this step unless the auction has expired. Step 118 obtains any openbids made by the hotel vendors for events and meeting offers posted bymeeting planners. Step 120 displays those bids. Step 122 enables theuser to select and display more details regarding those bids. See Tables10 and 11 below.

FIG. 5A generally shows an exemplary display screen for a hotel asaccessed by a hotel registered user. Outstanding facilities (e.g. hotel)offers to provide hospitality facilities are shown in the right columnas are outstanding bids. In FIG. 5A, the asterisks next to Offer Bindicates that the offer is outstanding and the bid time has not expired(i.e., open). After expiration of the bid period but during theselection of successful bidders, an additional function may be added tothe system to enable a bidder (whether a hotel or a planner) to withdrawhis or her bid. A withdrawn bid is not available for later selection bythe offeror. On the left side, the registered hotel user is enabled topost new hotel offers, search the hotel database 70 (FIG. 2), search formeeting planner offers either through a customized search or a globalsearch and is enabled to update information regarding hotel and personalcontact data. A custom search is an automated search matching facilitiesdata with any outstanding meeting planner bids. First, the registeredhotel user is presented with open offers and posted bids to sell his orher facility. Supplemental data is available by activating details orbid history active areas.

Returning to FIG. 4, after the step of selecting and displaying moredetail in step 122 (see Table 16), the system executes function 124which enables the registered user to post new hotel offers. The post newhotel offer routine is discussed in detail in the hotel auction orexchange data offer routine in FIG. 7A. In that figure, hotels andhospitality vendors input facilities offer data as step 125. Table 9which follows shows typical information posted by hotels offeringhospitality services or facilities. Of course, other types of vendorscould offer other hospitality services rather than hotel services. Anappropriate vendor posting page may be configured for specializedhospitality vendors (e.g., golf courses, marinas, etc.). TABLE 9 OfferPosting Page for Hotels Offer Information: Dates Available From    to    (required) Min# of Rooms (req'd) Max # Rooms (req'd) Max Price(req'd) Largest Meeting Room Available (req'd) Auction Time Frame(req'd) Select 5 day, 10 day or 15 day open bid period for this auction

In FIG. 7A as an example, the system in step 127 posts the offerregarding a proposal to provide hotel rooms in hotel database 70 of FIG.2. This data is sometimes called facilities offer data. Step 129 setsthe auction time frame. These time frames can be changed by the systemoperator. As shown in Table 9, the auction time frame may be a 5-day, 10day or 15 day auction. Other time frames may be utilized. In step 131,the system updates the hotel offer database. The outstanding offers areviewable by (a) the authorized hotel representative in the outstandingoffer category shown in FIG. 5A; (b) the registered meeting planner viathe search active area “Hotel Offer” in FIG. 5B and (c) the visitor viahotel offer active area 1020 in FIG. 3B.

An example of outstanding offer data is shown below in Table 10. TABLE10 Outstanding Hotel Offer Table Expiration Date/Dates Available/Max# ofRooms/Min# of Rooms/ State/Closest Airport/Type of Hotel/Largest MeetingRoom Available/Price/ Details/Bid History

Outstanding bids posted by the hotel and shown in the display field ofFIG. 5A unique to the registered user are listed as shown below in Table11. Bids by hotels are sometimes called specific hospitality facilitydata. TABLE 11 Outstanding Bid Table Expiration Date/DatesAvailable/Max# of Rooms/Min# of Rooms/State/Type of Hotel/LargestMeeting Room Available/Price

Table 11 also shows blinded or truncated facilities offer data madeavailable to a meeting planner who has posted an offer for an event as“requirement data.” The term “requirement data” is utilized because themeeting planner “needs” or “requires” that facility or service (e.g.compare a “need” for a golf course to a “need” for a 2000 person meetingroom) to prepare, launch and execute a successful meeting. The blindeddata is in a summary format and does not show identity or contact dataof the posting party.

Returning to FIG. 4, the post new hotel offer routine 124 provides anoutput which posts the new offer in the auction database in step 126. Itshould be noted that a third database may be implemented or an index maybe provided for the offers and resulting bids or planner database 68 andhotel database 70 may be modified to include fields for open offers andopen bids relative to the hospitality facilities and meeting plannerevents and meetings. The index links active offers and bids in databasefields.

After the post new offer step 124, the system executes search hoteldatabase step 128. It should be again noted that these functions 116,122, 124, 128, 132 and 134 are selected by the registered user via anactive field on a web page. Therefore, the process flow (e.g.,122-124-128 etc.) is not linear but is dynamically selected (or notselected ) by the user. The output of that search is provided as display130. The registered hotel user is currently permitted to search theentire hotel database to view all hotel specifics (but not dataidentifying the bidder's name on bids or the offeror's name of offers).The same is true for visitors. See Table 12 below for the search routinefields which define the inquiry format. An asterisk in these tablesgenerally refers to a pull-down menu selection for the client computeror user. The pull down menu * is optional. After the search hoteldatabase routine step 128, the system executes a search meetingsdatabase step 132 to locate open requests for quotes (RFQs) or requestfor proposals (RFPs), that is, open meeting planner offers. Table 12which follows provides some search criteria. The search criteria can beutilized for a hotel or a meeting auction, or a hotel auction. It shouldbe noted that the “auction” is primarily promoted by the easy exchangeof data and the matching of offers and bids wherein each party in thesystem may be both an offeror (a seller) and a bidder (a buyer). Thisdual role of both the hotel and the meeting planner is unique to thepresent system. A hotel vendor may want to search the hotel database tolook for outstanding blinded offers. An open offer, even if blinded,affects competition. Since blinded or truncated data is available to all(truncated data represents data without naming the offeror or bidder,see Tables 8A, 8B), price and facility competition is fostered withoutspecifically identifying the offeror. Sophisticated competitors may beable to “guess” who is offering or bidding due to certain uniqueattributes (e.g., a marina) in a location (e.g., Orlando, Fla.) but theoffers and bids are considered anonymous in nature. Since onlyregistered vendors (e.g. hotels) and registered planners are permittedto offer and place bids, the data is genuine and represents high qualityinformation. TABLE 12 Search Criteria Table *State Price (programsearches a range) Arrival Date Departure Date # of rooms (*range)Capacity of largest room requested Type of Hotel Required CompositeRating (AAA, Mobil) Maximum Hotel Capacity Amenities

After the search meetings routine 132, the system executes step 134which updates database information as necessary. If hotel data must beupdated, update step 134 jumps to the registration routine as noted injump step 136. This jump step transfers operation of the program toregistration functional routine shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 6 diagrammatically illustrates a top level meeting planner functionprogram. Again, the registered user selects, at his option, steps 146,150, 154, 158 or 160. The linear presentation of the process in FIG. 6is simply an organized presentation of the functionality of the program.The actual program does not operate sequentially. The user selects theparticular functional routine. Step 140 requires a valid useridentification and the appropriate password in order to utilize thepresent system. This id is input from the client's computer system. Step142 obtains and displays open offers or requests for proposals anddisplays more data as selected by the user (show “details”). Step 144obtains and displays open bids made by meeting planners for facilities.The user-meeting planner can display additional details as necessary.These items are found in the user meeting planner web page display shownin FIG. 5B. Outstanding offers and outstanding bids are shown in FIG. 5Bon the right hand side. On the left hand side, the user is enabled topost new offers, search for other meeting planner offers (truncated orblinded data is shown in response to these requests), and may search foroutstanding hotel offers with a global search. The planner is alsoenabled to search the general information hotel database and update hisor her contact information and meeting planner data.

Returning to FIG. 6, step 146 is a sub-routine enabling the meetingplanner to post new meeting offers or request for quotes (RFQs) orrequest for proposals (RFPs). These planner offers are sometimes calledrequirement data. The output is a posting of the new meeting offer inthe database or index as noted by post new offer step 148. Table 13shows a meeting planner offer. Optionally, the meeting planner offerinput data web page may match the hotel offer input data web page. SeeTable 9. Another option is the data shown at Table 8A including offerdetails. TABLE 13 Offer Posting Table for Meeting Planners DatesSpecific #Dates or Range (From . . . To . . . ) If Range: (1) preferredarrival (2) # of nights Geographic Region: (Select 1) (1) *Region(*indicates pull down menu) (2) *State (3) *Closest Airport *Type ofHotel *Price Size of Largest Meeting Room (# of people) RequiredAmenities (radio buttons (list)) *Rating Max Size of Desired Property(range*) Select Auction Time Frame 5-10-15 days

The offeror should identify at least one location setting (a region, astate or a city or airport).

The system in FIG. 6 then executes step 150 which searches otherplanners' offers. The system displays truncated offer data in step 152.The system then executes search hotel database step 154 to enable themeeting planner to locate new offers posted by hospitality facilityvendors. See Table 12. This function may also be used to generallysearch the entire hotel database notwithstanding the presence or absenceof an open offer. The output of the hotel offer search in step 156 maybe the posting of abid by the meeting planner for a particularhospitality vendor offer. Optionally, the planner may decline to post abid to a facilities offer. The bid posting data is shown below in Table14. When posting a bid, the system initially and automatically checks todetermine whether the bid matches the outstanding offer criteria. Theautomatic check of bid data against outstanding offers is conducted foreach posting of a bid. If an error is detected, the user is given anopportunity to correct the erroneous bid data in the detected field. Thebidder (whether a hotel or a planner) is enabled to edit the bid duringthe “open offer” period (prior to expiration). TABLE 14 OutstandingHotel Offer Table Expiration Date/Dates Available/Max# of Rooms/Min# ofRooms/ State/Closest Airport/Type of Hotel/Largest Meeting RoomAvailable/Price/ Details/Bid History Edit Bid

Step 158 obtains upcoming events from an event database (which may besupplemental to planner database 68 and hotel database 70), and enablesthe meeting to display and update that event database. The eventdatabase is described in greater detail in FIG. 10. Step 160 enables theuser to update personal data. Jump step 62 transfers the user to theregistration routine shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7B shows the sub-routine for meeting auction offer. Thiscorresponds to post new meeting offer routine 146 in FIG. 6. Input step166 enables the meeting planner to input meeting offer data (i.e.,requirement data having at least minimum facilities requirements andprice data) into the system. The system in step 168, posts a blindedversion of that meeting offer data as a request for quote. Blinded datadoes not include an identification of the offeror or bidder. This datamay also be a summary of the larger offer or bid data record. In theTables, the term “details” enables an authorized inquiring party to viewthe entire bid. The “authorized party” is the entity which posted thedata. The detailed data view is blinded with respect to the seller orbuyer contact data and specific location data unless the viewer is theofferor or the bidding party. Step 169 sets the auction time frame forthat meeting auction. Step 170 updates the meeting offer database.

The offer postings for meeting planners (sometimes called requirementdata) typically include the following data; however, a smaller orminimal data set may be used by the system for this function or for anyother data presentation function herein: TABLE 15 Offer Posting Tablefor Meeting Planners Dates Specific #Dates or Range (From . . . To . . .) If Range: (1) preferred arrival (2) # of nights Geographic Region:(Select 1) (1) *Region (*indicates pull down menu) (2) *State (3)*Closest Airport *Type of Hotel *Price Size of Largest Meeting Room (#of people) Required Amenities (radio buttons (list)) *Rating Max Size ofDesired Property (range*) Select Auction Time Frame 5-10-15 days

This bid data by hotels responding to a posted planner offer issometimes called specific hospitality data. A smaller offer data set maybe used.

FIGS. 8A and 8B diagrammatically show bid posting routines for the hotelvendor and the meeting planner, respectively. Step 210 is a passwordclearance step. See also step 110, FIG. 4. Step 212 logs in the bid data(specific hospitality facility data) for the hotel. The input by theuser is input step 213. Step 214 confirms that the hotel data meets orexceeds the request for quote or offer from the meeting planner(requirement data). This is an initial match or confirm step. Theinformation input into the system by the hotel vendor or user is shownbelow in Table 16. A smaller data set may be utilized. TABLE 16 BiddingPage for Hotel (Hotel as Bidder) Auction Expiration Date (supplied bySystem) Date Available From    To     (required) Min # of Rooms (limitsupplied by user; if no data input, system supplies data from generalhotel database) (auto check-optional) Max # of Rooms (limit user inputs;if not, system supplies) Region (system supplies) State (systemsupplies) Closest Airport (system supplies) Type of Hotel (systemsupplies) Max Size of Largest Meeting Room (system supplies) Max Price(req'd input) Details/Bid (control buttons to other routines)

Step 216 posts the full bid data (access permitted only by the bidder)and truncated or blind bid data in the auction-exchange database 68-70.As used herein, a “blind bid” or “blinded data” does not include bidderidentity data. Offeror data may also be “blinded data” if the offeror'sidentity is temporarily hidden. This use of blinded data reducesharassment of the offeror or bidder. Step 218 updates all records asnecessary.

With respect to FIG. 8B, the post bid routine when the planner is thebidder, the system executes step 220 which requires that the meetingplanner have the appropriate clearance. See also step 140, FIG. 6. Datainput step 222 obtains bid data from the meeting planner. This bid datamay include information set forth below in Table 17. Other data sets maybe utilized. Step 224 logs in the meeting data bid into the systemdatabase 68-70 from the meeting planner. Step 226 posts blinded bid datain the appropriate database or as an index entry. Step 228 updates therecords as necessary. When a meeting planner desires to bid on an openhospitality facility, the meeting planner posts bid data via a clientcomputer in accordance with Table 17, the Bidding Page for MeetingPlanner. At the time the bid profile data is posted, the systemautomatically checks to determine if the bid meets or exceeds the hoteloffer. The user is permitted to revise the bid to meet the offer. TABLE17 Bidding Page or Data for Meeting Planner Auction Expiration Date(Supplied by System) Requested Dates From    To     (req'd) # of Rooms(req'd) Region (system supplied) State (system supplied if available)Closest Airport (system supplied if available) Type of Hotel (systemsupplied) Max Room Price (req'd) Details/Bid (control buttons to otherroutines)

In the event a third-party meeting planner representing a corporation orother entity wants to post an offer or a bid for an event or meeting,that consultant prepares and inputs data shown below in Table 18. Thisinput is used in conjunction with the process described in connectionwith FIG. 6. TABLE 18 Supplemental Offer Posting Table for ConsultantsClient Link (drop down menu) Client/Contact/Meeting Name Name of Meeting(similar to Offer Posting -- Meeting Planners)

The following Search Detail Table can be executed by the hotelvendor-user or the meeting planner-user. See FIG. 4, steps 128, 132 andFIG. 6, steps 150, 154. TABLE 19 Search Detail Table 1. Dates Available(Search criteria: No specific search field data is required. Withrespect to dates, the following is required: If user chooses First Datefield, the search should be from that point forward. If user chooses theLast Date, the search goes from that point back)   First Date   LastDate 2. Number of Rooms (Range: Search n rooms +/− m range) 3. Location(all locations are searchable and any record should be displayed as partof the summary)   State   Region   Closest Major Airport 4. Type ofHotel    Any    Resort    Suburban    Airport    Downtown    ConferenceArea 5. Price (less than that)   min. price to pay 6. Meeting Room(largest room available in square footage). They are radio buttons whereuser can click and pick one selection.   Classification:    SquareFootage    Classrooms    Auditoriums    Reception    Banquet 7.Amenities   List of amenities with radio buttons 8. Ratings   Mobil  AAA   Composite 9. Hotel's Capacity (radio buttons)   XS<100  S>100-250   M [250-500]   L [501-1000]   XL>1000

FIG. 9 shows the auction or match or exchange routine for the presentinvention. As stated earlier, bidders, both hotel registered users andmeeting planner registered users supply bid data, noted as input 251,into the system. Decision step 250 determines whether the input bid datameets or exceeds any particular offer. If not, the NO branch is taken,the system generates a reject message in step 252 and returns to a pointimmediately preceding decision branch 250. Meeting planner offers aresometimes called “requirement data” herein. Hotels or other hospitalityvendors post hotel bids with are sometimes identified as “specifichospitality facility data.” The specific hospitality facility data orhotel bids must meet or exceed the request for quotes or requirementdata from meeting planners. Meeting planner offers are also sometimescalled “necessities” or “retirement data” or “facilities requirementdata.” Hospitality facilities post offers which are sometimes called“facilities offer data.” Meeting planners submit bids to the facilitiesoffer data and sometimes these meeting planners bids are called“specific facilities requirement data.”

If the YES branch is taken from decision step 250, step 254 periodicallysearches the offer and bid database 68-70 to locate open meeting planneroffers (requirement data, facilities requirement data for facilitiesnecessities), and the system automatically locates facilities or hotelsmatching those open planner offers. In step 256, an e-mail is preparedwith blinded facilities requirement data or offers. The blinded dataexcludes the name and contact data for the meeting planner-offeror.Output step 257 sends planner offer data to the registered user hotels.

If the registered user hotel vendor wants to bid on those outstandingmeeting planner offers, the hotel submit the bids in step 259. In otherwords, the hotels respond to the e-mail. In the present embodiment, theresponse is provided via the Internet wherein the hotel utilizes aclient computer to access the central computer 20 established by theadministrator operating the present computerized system. Decision step260 determines whether the bid data from the hotel (specific hospitalityfacility data) meets or exceeds the meeting planner bid (facilityrequirement data). If not, the NO branch is taken and the system loopsto a point immediately before decision step 260. If the bids exceed themeeting planner offers, the YES branch is taken and the system executesdecision step 262.

Decision step 262 involves an automatic review of all outstandingoffers, whether those offers are meeting planner offers (facilitiesrequirement data) or whether those offers are hotel offers (facilitiesoffer data). Decision step 262 determines whether a particular auctionor exchange time has expired. As stated earlier, the auction or exchangetime frame closes in 5 days, 10 days, or 15 days as selected by theoffering party. Once the system determines that the auction time hasexpired, the YES branch is taken and decision step 264 determineswhether there is one or more bids for a particular offer. If not, the NObranch is taken and the system in step 266 removes the offer from thesystem and an output step 267 notifies the offeror that no bids havebeen placed. If the YES branch is taken from decision 264, the systemexecutes step 268 which sorts the bids by price, by total revenue for ahotel offeror, by composite rating for a planner offeror, or othercriteria. Tables 20 and 21 which follow provide two examples of sortroutines for a Meeting Auction Sort Order (Table 20) and a Sort HotelAuction Criteria (Table 21). TABLE 20 Meeting Auction Sort Order Table(1) Auction Expiration Date, (2) Dates Requested (First), (3) Max # ofRooms, (4) Min # of Rooms, (5) State, (6) Type of Hotel, (7) Min Price,(8) Largest Meeting Room

The hotel offers are sorted by the following Sort Hotel Auction CriteriaTable. TABLE 21 Sort Hotel Auction Criteria Table (1) Auction ExpirationDate, (2) Dates Available (first), (3) Max# of Rooms, (4) Min# of Rooms,(5) State, (6) Type of Hotel, (7) Min Price, (8) Largest Meeting Room

After the sort function in step 268, the system sends, as an output instep 269 blinded bids in a spreadsheet format to the offering party.Other output formats may be utilized. The bids are placed in a sortedorder, typically keyed to price. However, the Sort Order Tables 20 and21 show that date availability has a higher priority then price. Itshould be noted that other sort criteria and prioritization may beutilized.

In input step 271, the offeror selects n number of bids and inputs thatselection via the Internet (in a preferred embodiment) into the system.Herein n is three (3). The system operator may change n. Step 272 logsin n selections into the system and marks the remainder of theoutstanding bids as “B List” or non-selected bids. In a currentembodiment, the offeror selects the top three (3) bids based uponsubjective or objective standards. Accordingly, if the offeror were sent10 prioritized blinded bids (not showing the name and contactinformation of the bidder) in output step 268, the offeror in step 271selects 3 of the 10 bids. The remaining 7 bids are placed on anon-selected or on a B List.

Step 274 involves compiling unblinded n bids and unblinded offeror data.Output step 275 sends that unblinded n bid data and offeror data to thespecific offeror and n bidders.

Input step 277 recognizes that the offeror may reject m number of the nbids. In other words, the offeror could reject all three unblinded bids.In this case, n=3 and m=3. Alternatively, the offeror may reject one(m=1) bid. Decision step 278 determines whether additional bids from theB List or non-selected list are needed. If so, the YES branch is takenand step 280 selects m bids from the B List, deletes the non-selectivebids from the n bids sent to the offeror in step 275, unblinds the mbids and e-mails those m bids to the offeror and the m bidders. This isan exchange of contact data. Accordingly, the system keeps anonymous thebidder's names until the offeror selects n number of bids and sendsunblinded data to the n bidders and the offeror. In this manner, meetingplanners who are offering facilities requirement data for meeting arenot bombarded or annoyed by a large number of hotel vendors bidding onthe facilities requirement data or meeting offer. In a like manner, ahotel posting a facilities offer data is not bombarded with a largenumber of unsolicited bids from meeting planners. From the bidders'standpoint, the system is beneficial because one or more bidders mayparticipate in an auction or data exchange using various specifichospitality facility data (hotel bids) or specific facilitiesrequirement data (meeting planner bids) which are “out of the normalrange” or “far fetched” bids. In the event those bids are accepted bythe counterpart offeror, the bidder is financially rewarded by fillingup his or her facility (if the bidder is a hotel) or by fulfilling ameeting plan offer (facilities requirement data) which plan was anunlikely candidate to fulfill. For example with respect to hotels, thehotel may wish to severely discount the price of 10% of their roomsduring off-season when their normal vacancy rate is 30% or higher. Thehotels may wish to let those rooms at a significantly discounted pricein order to keep an occupancy rate of 70% or higher during an off-seasonperiod. Meeting planners responding to this hotel offer could takeadvantage of this discount during non-peak seasons. If the bids arecompletely out of range, that is, other bids come in that aresignificantly better from the offeror's view point, the blinded natureof the bids shields the bidder from embarrassment and harassment. Hence,there is a significant benefit to both the offering party and thebidding party with the present system.

The output from step 280 regarding the selection of m bids from the BList, deletion of n bids from the original A List and the unblinding andthe e-mailing of contact data and full offer and bid data involves ajump from jump point 8-9A to 8-9B, that is, immediately preceding theunblind bid step in step 274.

If no more bids are needed from decision step 278, the NO branch istaken and, in step 282, the offers and the bids are cleared from thesystem. The system program ends after clear step 282. It should be notedthat clear step can be modified such that unwanted bids can be recycledto other auction periods.

FIG. 10 diagrammatically illustrates a special meeting routine whichenables meeting planners to post periodic corporate meeting data in thedatabase. Table 22 which follows lists the special offer criteria. Thespecial meeting data is not made available to other meeting planners orto hotels unless authorized by the posting planner. TABLE 22 MeetingPlanner - Special Offer Criteria A. Meeting or Event Name (assign rcdid) 1. Month-Year 2. Region - state (drop down menu *)(optional closestmajor   airport) 3. Hotel type * 4. Number of Rooms 5. Price per room(maximum price) B. Meeting Name  [same data as above] C. Meeting Name [same data as above] D. Meeting Name  [same data as above]

Step 410 conducts a periodic search through the meeting database datefield at a certain time period earlier than the event date. This isidentified in FIG. 10 as n months earlier. A period n days earlier maybe utilized. This step is optional. The planner may simply visit theweb-based system to check search results for a special meeting plan.Step 412 locates special meeting records within the date range search.Step 414 searches hotel database for matches which meet or exceed thepotential special meeting offer. The special event is not truly “anoffer” since the meeting planner has not confirmed the prospectiveevent.

Step 418 sends information or blinded data, typically via e-mail, tohotels which match the prospective meeting planner offer. The hotels arereminded to post offers on the prospective meeting planner offers.Similarly, the posting planner is reminded to post a formal planneroffer for the event.

The system may also be modified to (a) initially match hotels with thepotential planner offer, (b) monitor the potential planner offer (PPO)such that when the PPO becomes final or becomes an actual planner offer,then (c) pre-selected hotels are immediately notified. See step 256,FIG. 19. Also, weekly e-mail reminders to prospective bidding hotels.This weekly (or daily) reminder system may be added to step 256 in FIG.9.

In some situations, it may not be necessary to exchange blinded offerdata or blinded bid data. For example in connection with single, largehospitality vendor (e.g., MARRIOTT), all bidders would know the vendor.Hence blinded vendor hospitality offer data is not utilized. A similarsituation arises for large meeting planners (e.g., AMERICAN EXPRESStravel agents). The appended claims are meant to cover this aspect.

The claims appended hereto are meant to cover modifications and changeswithin the scope and spirit of the present invention.

1. A computerized bidding, matching and information exchange methodaccessible on a: telecommunications network for matching hospitalityfacility data, representing vendors furnishing hotel facilities, meetingroom facilities or other hospitality facilities, with meetingrequirement data, representing respective necessities of a plurality ofmeeting planners for a corresponding plurality of meetings or events,the bidding, matching and information exchange method comprising:gathering and storing said hospitality facility data for said pluralityof vendors and said meeting requirement data for said plurality ofmeeting planners in a database accessible via said telecommunicationsnetwork, said hospitality facility data including at least vendorcontact data, location data, room quantity data, date available rangedata, and meeting room data; gathering meeting requirement offer dataincluding at least meeting planner contact data, facilities requirementdata, date range data and price data, and matching meeting requirementoffer data with hospitality facility data and communicating said meetingrequirement offer data to matching vendors with the matching hospitalityfacility data and withholding, from matching vendors, said meetingplanner contact data associated with said meeting requirement offerdata; and gathering responsive hospitality bid data from a plurality ofinterested matching vendors relative to said meeting requirement offerdata and communicating said responsive hospitality bid data to saidmeeting planner posting said meeting requirement offer data.
 2. Acomputerized bidding, matching and information exchange method asclaimed in claim 1 wherein communicating said responsive hospitality biddata to said meeting planner includes preparing in a spread sheet formatsaid responsive hospitality bid data from a plurality of interestedmatching vendors.
 3. A method as claimed in claim 1 including the stepof verifying said hospitality facility data for said plurality ofvendors and said meeting planner data prior to gathering meetingrequirement offer data, matching meeting requirement offer data andgathering responsive hospitality bid data.
 4. A method as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the method includes, prior to communicating saidresponsive hospitality bid data, sorting and ordering responsive biddata based upon predetermined criteria which includes a datacharacteristic of at least one from the group of price data, locationdata, meeting room data, and date range data.
 5. A computerized bidding,matching and information exchange method as claimed in claim 4 whereincommunicating said responsive hospitality bid data to said meetingplanner includes preparing in a spread sheet format the sorted andordered responsive hospitality bid data from a plurality of interestedmatching vendors.
 6. A method as claimed in claim 1 including the stepof presenting to hospitality facility vendors and meeting planners whoare both offering parties and bidding parties all posted offers and bidsunique to those parties.
 7. A method as claimed in claim 2 including thestep of verifying said hospitality facility data for said plurality ofvendors and said meeting planner data prior to gathering meetingrequirement offer data, matching meeting requirement offer data andgathering responsive hospitality bid data.
 8. A method as claimed inclaim 7 wherein the method includes, prior to communicating saidresponsive hospitality bid data, sorting and ordering responsive biddata based upon predetermined criteria which includes a datacharacteristic of at least one from the group of price data, locationdata, meeting room data, and date range data and then preparing saidspread sheet with the sorted and ordered data.
 9. A method as claimed inclaim 8 including the step of presenting to hospitality facility vendorsand meeting planners who are both offering parties and bidding partiesall posted offers and bids unique to those parties.